Rakhine Border Guard Officer Kills Colleague in Spat over Water

9 months ago

SITTWE, Rakhine State — A border guard police officer was killed on Saturday and another was injured when a fight erupted between officers at Thinbawhla Chaungwa police outpost in northern Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township.

Police officer Kyaw Phyo Thu threw an MG-1 grenade at his colleague Pyae Phyo Min after they started fighting over the scarce water supply at the police post. The grenade exploded between Pyae Phyo Min and Lance-Corporal Min Min Zaw, who was sleeping near them, according to Maungdaw police.

The two were rushed to Maungdaw Hospital, but Pyae Phyo Min died of his wounds. Min Min Zaw was later transferred to a military hospital in Sittwe.

The commander of the Maungdaw Township Police Force, Captain Hla Htay, said he did not know the details about the incident, as it involved border guard police.

Police Colonel Aung Win, commander of Kyee Kan Pyin Border Guard Police headquarters, declined to comment, saying only that he regretted that a fight had broken out between officers.

“We have submitted the case to higher authorities. They will issue a statement to the press,” he told The Irrawaddy.

Kyaw Phyo Thu was detained at the border guard headquarters, where an investigation was under way.

On Sunday, a police lance-corporal was fatally shot by a sub-lieutenant after the two got into a fight during a patrol in Yoe Tayoke village in Rakhine’s Ponna Kyun Township.